#comicreview — Public Fediverse posts

Comic Review: Star Wars: The Fall of Kylo Ren (2026) #2

#ComicReview #StarWars #FanthaTracks #fallofkyloren #marvel #charlessoule 

We review Star Wars: The Fall of Kylo Ren (2026) #2.

Read the whole story at the below link:

https://www.fanthatracks.com/reviews/literature-art-reviews/comic-review-star-wars-the-fall-of-kylo-ren-2026-2/

Comic Review: Star Wars: The Fall of Kylo Ren (2026) #2

#ComicReview #StarWars #FanthaTracks #fallofkyloren #marvel #charlessoule 

We review Star Wars: The Fall of Kylo Ren (2026) #2.

Read the whole story at the below link:

https://www.fanthatracks.com/reviews/literature-art-reviews/comic-review-star-wars-the-fall-of-kylo-ren-2026-2/

Comic Review: Star Wars: The Fall of Kylo Ren (2026) #2

#ComicReview #StarWars #FanthaTracks #fallofkyloren #marvel #charlessoule 

We review Star Wars: The Fall of Kylo Ren (2026) #2.

Read the whole story at the below link:

https://www.fanthatracks.com/reviews/literature-art-reviews/comic-review-star-wars-the-fall-of-kylo-ren-2026-2/

Comic Review: Star Wars: The Fall of Kylo Ren (2026) #2

#ComicReview #StarWars #FanthaTracks #fallofkyloren #marvel #charlessoule 

We review Star Wars: The Fall of Kylo Ren (2026) #2.

Read the whole story at the below link:

https://www.fanthatracks.com/reviews/literature-art-reviews/comic-review-star-wars-the-fall-of-kylo-ren-2026-2/

Comic Review: Star Wars: The Fall of Kylo Ren (2026) #2

#ComicReview #StarWars #FanthaTracks #fallofkyloren #marvel #charlessoule 

We review Star Wars: The Fall of Kylo Ren (2026) #2.

Read the whole story at the below link:

https://www.fanthatracks.com/reviews/literature-art-reviews/comic-review-star-wars-the-fall-of-kylo-ren-2026-2/

Invisible Kingdom: Volume 1 – Walking The Path | Comic Review

I was perusing the comic book section at my local library, and I came across a book that I hadn’t read before. It was from G. Willow Wilson, so I knew that I had to check it out. I can say that I really dug Invisible Kingdom: Volume 1 – Walking The Path.

The story follows two women making their way in a far away galaxy. The first is a religious devotee at the beginning of her lifetime commitment. The second is a freighter pilot trying to build a life without ruffling too many feathers. The two will cross paths when they simultaneously discover a massive conspiracy between the largest religion and the corporation.

Interweaving the religion and the corporation in explicitly supressing people is a great storytelling trope. In Star Wars, it’s the Sith under Darth Sidious using the hammer of politics to bend the corporations to his will. I’ll need to continue on in the series to learn how this pairing came to this agreement, but I can’t wait to get there.

The art from Christian Ward in this book is fantastic. The character design is brilliant, and the colors used draw you into a world that feels lived-in. Everything from the planets, the ships, the characters feels tangible.

I’m into this, so I will keep reading. The second and third volumes are at my library, so I’ll be checking them out at some point.

Book: Invisible Kingdom: Volume 1 – Walking The Path

Publisher: Dark Horse Comics

Writer: G. Willow Wilson

Artist: Christian Ward

Letterer: Sal Cipriano

A Look Back at Robin #1 (1991)

Disclaimer: This is my original work with details sourced from reading the comic book and doing personal research. Anyone who wants to use this article, in part or in whole, needs to secure first my permission and agree to cite me as the source and author. Let it be known that any unauthorized use of this article will constrain the author to pursue the remedies under R.A. No. 8293, the Revised Penal Code, and/or all applicable legal actions under the laws of the Philippines.

Welcome back superhero enthusiasts, 1990s culture enthusiasts and comic book collectors! Today we go back to the year 1991 to explore a part of the DC Comics shared universe through one very notable comic book featuring Batman’s sidekick Robin.

For decades, the Caped Crusader Batman (who is business tycoon Bruce Wayne during the day) had Robin as his skilled teenage partner fighting countless waves of criminals in many comic books published through the decades. The most notable fact about Robin is that there are three different characters who took the role as Batman’s sidekick…Dick Grayson (who later joined the Teen Titans and became Nightwing), Jason Todd (who died as a result of a warehouse explosion set up by the Joker who beat him mercilessly) and Tim Drake. Behind the scenes at DC Comics, a decision was made to publish a comic book mini-series featuring Tim Drake Robin.

With those details laid down, here is a look back at Robin #1, published in 1991 by DC Comics with a story written by Chuck Dixon and drawn by the late Tom Lyle.

Early story

The story begins inside the Batcave. Tim Drake is still adjusting in his new role as Robin and right in front of Bruce Wayne (wearing his Batman costume), he feels uneasy deep inside even though he got the role after wanting it so badly. He just could not tell him how much it scares him.

Even though Tim admits he feels unsure and needs more time, Bruce tells him he is ready to be his partner. Still the new Boy Wonder says he is not sure if he has what it takes. Bruce reminds Tim that he has proven to be smart after figuring out correctly his secret identity as Batman. He tells him that he needs to develop himself more to gain his edge.

Meanwhile in Japan, the deadly assassin Lady Shiva meets the martial artist Koroshi and discovers he has been paralyzed and limited on a wheelchair…

Quality

As a tale strongly focused on Robin, this comic book has a fine blend of action, discovery, intrigue and even elements of culture clash. It gradually dramatizes Tim Drake’s development into Robin showing moments of trial-and-error, getting himself educated far away from home, experiencing humiliation and overcoming the odds while having limitations.

The script written by Chuck Dixon is not limited to presenting how the newest Robin came to be. I enjoyed how Dixon crafted Tim Drake’s private talks with Batman and the butler Alfred Pennyworth. Each interaction with the established characters were rich in details and there is that sense of the new Robin looking up to Batman as his mentor and to Alfred as a guidance councilor.

By going all the way to France to learn from an Asian master, Tim Drake’s journey has some similarities with how Bruce Wayne developed himself into becoming Batman. It should be noted that this tale took place sometime after the death of his predecessor Jason Todd (beaten by the Joker who eventually became the Islamic terrorist regime of Iran’s ambassador to the United Nations) and it is indeed a part of Batman becoming more stable after overcoming the trauma of Todd’s demise.

For those who still find Robin as an unbelievable teenage crime fighter simply because of his youth, there are young gangsters in this tale that symbolically are the opposites of Batman’s sidekick. This was Chuck Dixon’s way of reminding people that there are indeed teenage criminals or youth gangs that exist around the world. Such young criminals or abusers still exist to this day and Robin’s status as a teenage crime fighter is clearly justified.

As a standalone tale, this comic book is pretty good and there is clear coordination between Chuck Dixon and Tom Lyle who did a fine job visualizing the script. Lyle’s art has this fine balance visualizing character development scenes, transition scenes and dynamic action. Historically, Lyle went on to draw the Robin II and Robin III mini-series for DC Comics before moving to Marvel Comics to work on Spider-Man comic books. In this very comic book, you can see how talented Lyle really was on illustrations.

Conclusion

Even though I am not a fan of Robin, I can say that the Dixon-Lyle duo succeeded in making Robin #1 (1991) a really entertaining and engaging read. It definitely is a strong start to a Robin mini-series and also serves as a defining moment for Batman’s sidekick who also got modernized at the time.

Overall, Robin #1 (1991) is recommended.

+++++

Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at @CarloCarrascoPH as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram athttps://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

A Look Back at Robin #1 (1991)

Disclaimer: This is my original work with details sourced from reading the comic book and doing personal research. Anyone who wants to use this article, in part or in whole, needs to secure first my permission and agree to cite me as the source and author. Let it be known that any unauthorized use of this article will constrain the author to pursue the remedies under R.A. No. 8293, the Revised Penal Code, and/or all applicable legal actions under the laws of the Philippines.

Welcome back superhero enthusiasts, 1990s culture enthusiasts and comic book collectors! Today we go back to the year 1991 to explore a part of the DC Comics shared universe through one very notable comic book featuring Batman’s sidekick Robin.

For decades, the Caped Crusader Batman (who is business tycoon Bruce Wayne during the day) had Robin as his skilled teenage partner fighting countless waves of criminals in many comic books published through the decades. The most notable fact about Robin is that there are three different characters who took the role as Batman’s sidekick…Dick Grayson (who later joined the Teen Titans and became Nightwing), Jason Todd (who died as a result of a warehouse explosion set up by the Joker who beat him mercilessly) and Tim Drake. Behind the scenes at DC Comics, a decision was made to publish a comic book mini-series featuring Tim Drake Robin.

With those details laid down, here is a look back at Robin #1, published in 1991 by DC Comics with a story written by Chuck Dixon and drawn by the late Tom Lyle.

Early story

The story begins inside the Batcave. Tim Drake is still adjusting in his new role as Robin and right in front of Bruce Wayne (wearing his Batman costume), he feels uneasy deep inside even though he got the role after wanting it so badly. He just could not tell him how much it scares him.

Even though Tim admits he feels unsure and needs more time, Bruce tells him he is ready to be his partner. Still the new Boy Wonder says he is not sure if he has what it takes. Bruce reminds Tim that he has proven to be smart after figuring out correctly his secret identity as Batman. He tells him that he needs to develop himself more to gain his edge.

Meanwhile in Japan, the deadly assassin Lady Shiva meets the martial artist Koroshi and discovers he has been paralyzed and limited on a wheelchair…

Quality

As a tale strongly focused on Robin, this comic book has a fine blend of action, discovery, intrigue and even elements of culture clash. It gradually dramatizes Tim Drake’s development into Robin showing moments of trial-and-error, getting himself educated far away from home, experiencing humiliation and overcoming the odds while having limitations.

The script written by Chuck Dixon is not limited to presenting how the newest Robin came to be. I enjoyed how Dixon crafted Tim Drake’s private talks with Batman and the butler Alfred Pennyworth. Each interaction with the established characters were rich in details and there is that sense of the new Robin looking up to Batman as his mentor and to Alfred as a guidance councilor.

By going all the way to France to learn from an Asian master, Tim Drake’s journey has some similarities with how Bruce Wayne developed himself into becoming Batman. It should be noted that this tale took place sometime after the death of his predecessor Jason Todd (beaten by the Joker who eventually became the Islamic terrorist regime of Iran’s ambassador to the United Nations) and it is indeed a part of Batman becoming more stable after overcoming the trauma of Todd’s demise.

For those who still find Robin as an unbelievable teenage crime fighter simply because of his youth, there are young gangsters in this tale that symbolically are the opposites of Batman’s sidekick. This was Chuck Dixon’s way of reminding people that there are indeed teenage criminals or youth gangs that exist around the world. Such young criminals or abusers still exist to this day and Robin’s status as a teenage crime fighter is clearly justified.

As a standalone tale, this comic book is pretty good and there is clear coordination between Chuck Dixon and Tom Lyle who did a fine job visualizing the script. Lyle’s art has this fine balance visualizing character development scenes, transition scenes and dynamic action. Historically, Lyle went on to draw the Robin II and Robin III mini-series for DC Comics before moving to Marvel Comics to work on Spider-Man comic books. In this very comic book, you can see how talented Lyle really was on illustrations.

Conclusion

Even though I am not a fan of Robin, I can say that the Dixon-Lyle duo succeeded in making Robin #1 (1991) a really entertaining and engaging read. It definitely is a strong start to a Robin mini-series and also serves as a defining moment for Batman’s sidekick who also got modernized at the time.

Overall, Robin #1 (1991) is recommended.

+++++

Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at @CarloCarrascoPH as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram athttps://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

A Look Back at Gen13 #4 (1994)

Disclaimer: This is my original work with details sourced from reading the comic book and doing personal research. Anyone who wants to use this article, in part or in whole, needs to secure first my permission and agree to cite me as the source and author. Let it be known that any unauthorized use of this article will constrain the author to pursue the remedies under R.A. No. 8293, the Revised Penal Code, and/or all applicable legal actions under the laws of the Philippines.

Welcome back, superhero fans, 1990s arts and culture enthusiasts, Image Comics fans and comic book collectors! Today we go back to the mid-1990s to examine one of the many tales of Jim Lee’s original WildStorm universe through the original Gen13 mini-series.

In the previous issue, Dale Keown’s Pitt made a crossover appearance, and his presence was strongly felt. For International Operations (IO), John Lynch and the Black Razors, Pitt is a monster that could handle and transport safely. Their stop at the IO facility in the middle of desert disturbed Ivana and only added tension as Caitlin Fairchild daringly returned to rescue her friends (who endured torture and humiliation under Threshold). Things intensified when Fairchild encountered Pitt.

With those details laid down, here is a look back at Gen13 #4, published by Image Comics in 1994 with a story written by Jim Lee and Brandon Choi with artwork done by Jeffrey Scott Campbell. This is the fourth issue of the mini-series.  

Early story

The story begins inside the facility in the middle of the desert. Fairchild and the freed Pitt find themselves cornered by John Lynch, Ivana and several armored personnel with their guns aimed at them.

Lynch wants the two secured and escorted to the holding cells. Ivana, who is already upset over the immense damage caused by Fairchild and Pitt moments earlier, wants the two killed instead. Lynch tells her to stop worrying as he will take both Fairchild and Pitt with him the next morning. Ivana responds negatively and orders the Black Razors to have Lynch arrested.

As the Black Razors did not immediately respond to her, Ivana grabs a machine gun and kills them in front of Lynch. Fairchild seized the moment to sweep Ivana and her two red-colored armed guards off their feet to cause them to lose their balance. As Fairchild and Pitt begin to make their next move, more armed guards under Ivana arrived.

Meanwhile on another part of the facility, Grunge, Roxy, Rainmaker and Burnout are on the loose and they have the blonde young boy Timmy with them…

Quality

At this particular stage of the mini-series, the story here is creatively a handsome pay-off to what was built up in the previous issue. As Caitlin Fairchild got delayed in her pursuit to rescue her friends, those four young people saw their respective super abilities manifest which enabled them to overcome tough and violent odds. Grunge here got braver, Roxy learned more how to handle her power properly and the more. As such, the building blocks of Gen13 as a team have started to take shape while still leaving some room left for suspense and surprises. In short, there is more to come after this story and the creative team carefully paced the storytelling, the spectacle and the character development.

Dale Keown’s Pitt continued to have a presence here and he does have an exit that is worth the attention of readers. Anyone who is not fan of Pitt will be able to discover something new and interesting about the character. In some ways, this comic book – plus issue #3 – made me a bit interested to read the Pitt comic books that were published under the Image Comics banner.

John Lynch, one of the more established characters of WildStorm who appeared in mostly supporting roles, got a bigger spotlight here as he uses his authority as an IO executive which impacted the direction of the story. To be clear, Lynch is not in line with the managers of the facility (which belongs to IO) and his conflict with Ivana led to violence in the facility. What happened also led to his encounter with the Gen13 teenagers. As Lynch realizes their potential, he takes action using IO’s resources to even the odds as Ivana’s troops begin to arrive.

Conclusion

Compared to the previous issue, Gen13 #4 (1994) has stronger writing with regards to storytelling and character development. The plot really got deeper here even as twists and turns happened. At this stage, the facility has turned into a battle zone which literally placed the Gen13 teenagers and Lynch into a corner. This 4th issue of the mini-series is very entertaining and gripping.

Overall, Gen13 #4 (1994) is highly recommended.

+++++

Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below and also please consider sharing this article to others. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. If you want to support my website, please consider making a donation. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at @CarloCarrascoPH as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco/.

A Look Back at Gen13 #3 (1994)

Disclaimer: This is my original work with details sourced from reading the comic book and doing personal research. Anyone who wants to use this article, in part or in whole, needs to secure first my permission and agree to cite me as the source and author. Let it be known that any unauthorized use of this article will constrain the author to pursue the remedies under R.A. No. 8293, the Revised Penal Code, and/or all applicable legal actions under the laws of the Philippines.

Welcome back, superhero fans, 1990s arts and culture enthusiasts, Image Comics fans and comic book collectors! Today we go back to the mid-1990s to examine one of the many tales of Jim Lee’s original WildStorm universe through the original Gen13 mini-series.

With the first two issues over, the stakes have been raised now that Caitlin Fairchild has been separated from her eventual teammates. Fairchild is alone in the middle of the desert in Nevada and her pals – who went back to the International Operations (IO) facility that trained them – are in deep trouble already.

With those details laid down, here is a look back at Gen13 #3, published by Image Comics in 1994 with a story written by Jim Lee and Brandon Choi with artwork done by Jeffrey Scott Campbell. This is the third issue of the mini-series.  

Early story

The story begins in the desert. From a distance, Caitlin Fairchild spots a paramilitary convoy delivering something big and important. It turns out the convoy is handled by the Black Razors and they arrived at the IO facility in the middle of the night.

Ivana (one of leaders of the facility) woke up to personally examine what the convoy delivered to them unexpectedly. When she asked who is giving the orders, John Lynch (formerly of Team 7) appears and he tells her that he has an unidentified super-powered being that has to be secured at their facility only for the night.

Inside the heavy containment unit is Pitt…

Quality

I can say that the story here is both a thrill ride and also a build-up for what is clearly the next stage of the mini-series’ concept. The addition of Pitt here is actually a crossover-related appearance as the said character is a creation of Dale Keown (essentially a non-WildStorm character). Pitt’s presence added weight to the spectacle as a short fight between him and a stronger Caitland Fairchild over a misunderstanding took place.

One part of the narrative followed Fairchild who made the suicidal move to return to the facility alone as she decided to rescue her companions Roxy, Grunge, Rainmaker and Burnout. Even though she already has an idea that a trap could be set up for her, Fairchild has fully decided to pursue a rescue rather running away to freedom. As such, Fairchild here is braver, took huge risks to meet her new goals and has shown notable changes following what happened in the first two issues.

Another part of the plot follows Roxy, Grunge, Burnout and Rainmaker who have been held captive in very humiliating fashion as they have been stripped naked and have been restrained in ways that would outrage the human rights activists. The main antagonists Ivana, Threshold and Nicole wield absolute power in the facility and they are indeed ruthless. Ivana, who had to receive and meet John Lynch, is obsessed with experimenting on gen-active youth to create her own personal army of super-powered beings. Threshold helps her by torturing the captured companions of Fairchild and he is so cold-hearted, he actually enjoys performing both torture and humiliation.

The WildStorm universe veteran John Lynch (read my past reviews of Team 7 and The Kindred) appears here and was portrayed to be uncompromising and dead serious with his task handling Pitt’s transfer. His presence and interactions with Ivana shed more light on the purpose of International Operations (IO) and how the organization is connected with the youth program at the facility.

Conclusion

Gen13 #3 (1994) has a lot of thrills plus intrigue and even some shock value that made it stand out among the many superhero comic books about powered teenagers published in the 1990s. There is clear development on Fairchild and what she does here is the result of the huge decision she made at the end of issue #2. Fairchild’s captured companions also got their fair share of development as well and it is here where their bond as a group really grows. Along the way, Pitt added the monster presence but with a touch of heroism instead of instant death towards others. Anyone who follows Pitt should see his crossover appearance here. Indeed, this third issue of the mini-series is still fun to read.

Overall, Gen13 #3 (1994) is recommended.

+++++

Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below and also please consider sharing this article to others. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. If you want to support my website, please consider making a donation. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at @CarloCarrascoPH as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco/.

A Look Back at Gen13 #1 (1994)

Disclaimer: This is my original work with details sourced from reading the comic book and doing personal research. Anyone who wants to use this article, in part or in whole, needs to secure first my permission and agree to cite me as the source and author. Let it be known that any unauthorized use of this article will constrain the author to pursue the remedies under R.A. No. 8293, the Revised Penal Code, and/or all applicable legal actions under the laws of the Philippines.

Welcome back, superhero fans, 1990s arts and culture enthusiasts, Image Comics fans and comic book collectors! Today we go back to the mid-1990s to examine one of the many tales of Jim Lee’s original WildStorm universe through the original Gen13 mini-series.

There is a lot to enjoy in the WildStorm comic book universe of the 1990s with such titles like WildCATS: Covert Action Teams, Team 7, StormWatch, Grifter, Backlash and Wetworks to name some. The WildStorm depicts the world as chaotic filled with strong paramilitary concepts, conspiracies and even aliens from deep space.

Along the way, WildStorm has its own take on the sub-genre of super-powered teenagers which was realized as Gen13 (stylized as Gen13). Strangely enough, the team – which actually first appeared in the Deathmate Black crossover comic book in 1993 – was originally titled as Gen X but WildStorm had to rebrand it into Gen13 as Marvel Comics already trademarked the name Generation X for an X-Men-related comic book project. To learn more about production history and background of Gen13, click here.

With those details laid down, here is a look back at Gen13 #1, published by Image Comics in 1994 with a story written by Jim Lee and Brandon Choi with artwork done by Jeffrey Scott Campbell (ink work by Alex Garner). This is the first issue of the mini-series.  

Early story

The story begins sometime in 1979 when a married couple (Stephen and Rachel Callahan) desperate runs away with their two little children. A team of armored troops (the Black Razors) riding two hovering vehicles catches up with them and hit Rachel with bullets passing through her body. Stephen, who is carrying his son Matthew, uses his power to destroy one of the hovering vehicles. One of the Black Razors realized that the husband is gen-active and nobody informed their team that he was with Gen12.

Agonizing with severe head pain, Stephen tells Matthew to take his little sister Nicole with him and run to the trees. As far as Stephen is concerned, he is finished and all he can do is buy time for the two little children to escape. He tells Matthew to protect his sister. Suddenly, the Black Razors killed Stephen right in front of Matthew and Nicole.

Fifteen years later, a young, nerdy college student named Caitlin Fairchild makes her way through the college campus in Princeton. She is a gifted student who has been focused on maintaining a high grade and graduate with her advanced degree in computer science in the near future.

Upon arriving at the dormitory, she meets her promiscuous roommate Alexa who informs her that some guys arrived earlier looking for her. The guys were described as middle-aged suits and they wanted to talk to Caitlin about some internship program. Alexa then leaves.

A few hours later, Caitlin wakes up as the door gets knocked. Special agent baker of the National Security Committee tells her that she has been accepted into the Gen13 program and her presence is immediately required in order to process her into the program before it begins the next day…

Quality

I enjoyed this comic book the first time I had it in 1994. I can clearly say that it is still fun and engaging to read again today.

This comic book was written with the intention to introduce super-powered teenagers as a new and really distinctive team in one corner of the original WildStorm universe while also expanding the lore by focusing more on International Operations’ unethical covert operations which will easily remind people about government conspiracies, top secret missions and the like. The story has really strong elements about conspiracies, unethical scientific experiments and even human rights violations. The story by Jim Lee and Brandon Choi has a strong structure but what stood out to me was the really creative writing done to bring the characters to life complete with a touch of the 1990s vibe (in reference to comic book trends and real-life society).

John Lynch, a former member of Team 7 and also one of the high-ranking officials of IO who occasionally appeared in prior WildStorm comic books, gets a nice share of the spotlight in the story and indeed he is not full control of his organization. In fact, IO’s execution of a new program about developing people with special abilities or powers (without their knowledge) raises Lynch’s concerns as he himself was a victim of betrayal and exposure to an experimental gas during his time with Team 7. Lynch also appeared in The Kindred mini-series (read my reviews by clicking here, here and here).

When it comes to the characters, Gen13’s members here are introduced with notable differences in terms of personality. The nerdy Caitlin Fairchild is the very promising smart young lady who has the potential to succeed. Bobby (Burnout) is the quiet guy who quickly realizes that true unity is needed in order for a group to succeed under the program they are in. Roxy is the undisciplined and rebellious young lady while Grunge is the loose cannon and has trouble with authorities. While it is clear you won’t see much of their powers yet in this comic book, they turned out to be interesting enough to follow thanks to the strong creative writing by Lee and Choi.

When it comes to the visuals, Jeffrey Scott Campbell’s artworks really stood out mainly due to his distinctive style. If you look closely at how he draws the faces of women – particularly the ones who are young and fit – you will realize the exaggerated look complete with the big eyes and curves seen on females in anime or even manga (Japanese comics). If you are looking visual realism on the characters, you won’t find it here at all. Campbell’s style truly defined the look of the characters and yet he was able to draw armored troops (Black Razors and the armed security guard) with a really high level of details (including their weapons) which really stood out visually. Campbell is also good with superhero spectacle and hard action. Last but not least, there is a deliberate amount of erotic imagery in this comic book which serves as a reminder that this is a story aimed at young adult and adult readers.  

Conclusion

Indeed, Gen13 #1 (1994) remains entertaining to read mainly because of the strong writing. The story moved at a smooth pace, the exposition was done cleverly, and the characters ended up being worthy enough to pay attention to. By the time I reached the end, I am convinced to go on to the next issue and rediscover not only more of the mini-series but also the way it expanded the lore of the WildStorm universe of the 1990s. This comic book alone strongly emphasized the connections with other elements of the WildStorm universe, particularly with Team 7 (its mini-series launched months after this one) and the dark legacy of IO. It is an adulterated superhero comic book that really offered readers something new and intriguing.

Overall, Gen13 #1 (1994) is recommended.

+++++

Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below and also please consider sharing this article to others. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. If you want to support my website, please consider making a donation. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at @CarloCarrascoPH as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco/.

A Look Back at Gen13 #1 (1994)

Disclaimer: This is my original work with details sourced from reading the comic book and doing personal research. Anyone who wants to use this article, in part or in whole, needs to secure first my permission and agree to cite me as the source and author. Let it be known that any unauthorized use of this article will constrain the author to pursue the remedies under R.A. No. 8293, the Revised Penal Code, and/or all applicable legal actions under the laws of the Philippines.

Welcome back, superhero fans, 1990s arts and culture enthusiasts, Image Comics fans and comic book collectors! Today we go back to the mid-1990s to examine one of the many tales of Jim Lee’s original WildStorm universe through the original Gen13 mini-series.

There is a lot to enjoy in the WildStorm comic book universe of the 1990s with such titles like WildCATS: Covert Action Teams, Team 7, StormWatch, Grifter, Backlash and Wetworks to name some. The WildStorm depicts the world as chaotic filled with strong paramilitary concepts, conspiracies and even aliens from deep space.

Along the way, WildStorm has its own take on the sub-genre of super-powered teenagers which was realized as Gen13 (stylized as Gen13). Strangely enough, the team – which actually first appeared in the Deathmate Black crossover comic book in 1993 – was originally titled as Gen X but WildStorm had to rebrand it into Gen13 as Marvel Comics already trademarked the name Generation X for an X-Men-related comic book project. To learn more about production history and background of Gen13, click here.

With those details laid down, here is a look back at Gen13 #1, published by Image Comics in 1994 with a story written by Jim Lee and Brandon Choi with artwork done by Jeffrey Scott Campbell (ink work by Alex Garner). This is the first issue of the mini-series.  

Early story

The story begins sometime in 1979 when a married couple (Stephen and Rachel Callahan) desperate runs away with their two little children. A team of armored troops (the Black Razors) riding two hovering vehicles catches up with them and hit Rachel with bullets passing through her body. Stephen, who is carrying his son Matthew, uses his power to destroy one of the hovering vehicles. One of the Black Razors realized that the husband is gen-active and nobody informed their team that he was with Gen12.

Agonizing with severe head pain, Stephen tells Matthew to take his little sister Nicole with him and run to the trees. As far as Stephen is concerned, he is finished and all he can do is buy time for the two little children to escape. He tells Matthew to protect his sister. Suddenly, the Black Razors killed Stephen right in front of Matthew and Nicole.

Fifteen years later, a young, nerdy college student named Caitlin Fairchild makes her way through the college campus in Princeton. She is a gifted student who has been focused on maintaining a high grade and graduate with her advanced degree in computer science in the near future.

Upon arriving at the dormitory, she meets her promiscuous roommate Alexa who informs her that some guys arrived earlier looking for her. The guys were described as middle-aged suits and they wanted to talk to Caitlin about some internship program. Alexa then leaves.

A few hours later, Caitlin wakes up as the door gets knocked. Special agent baker of the National Security Committee tells her that she has been accepted into the Gen13 program and her presence is immediately required in order to process her into the program before it begins the next day…

Quality

I enjoyed this comic book the first time I had it in 1994. I can clearly say that it is still fun and engaging to read again today.

This comic book was written with the intention to introduce super-powered teenagers as a new and really distinctive team in one corner of the original WildStorm universe while also expanding the lore by focusing more on International Operations’ unethical covert operations which will easily remind people about government conspiracies, top secret missions and the like. The story has really strong elements about conspiracies, unethical scientific experiments and even human rights violations. The story by Jim Lee and Brandon Choi has a strong structure but what stood out to me was the really creative writing done to bring the characters to life complete with a touch of the 1990s vibe (in reference to comic book trends and real-life society).

John Lynch, a former member of Team 7 and also one of the high-ranking officials of IO who occasionally appeared in prior WildStorm comic books, gets a nice share of the spotlight in the story and indeed he is not full control of his organization. In fact, IO’s execution of a new program about developing people with special abilities or powers (without their knowledge) raises Lynch’s concerns as he himself was a victim of betrayal and exposure to an experimental gas during his time with Team 7. Lynch also appeared in The Kindred mini-series (read my reviews by clicking here, here and here).

When it comes to the characters, Gen13’s members here are introduced with notable differences in terms of personality. The nerdy Caitlin Fairchild is the very promising smart young lady who has the potential to succeed. Bobby (Burnout) is the quiet guy who quickly realizes that true unity is needed in order for a group to succeed under the program they are in. Roxy is the undisciplined and rebellious young lady while Grunge is the loose cannon and has trouble with authorities. While it is clear you won’t see much of their powers yet in this comic book, they turned out to be interesting enough to follow thanks to the strong creative writing by Lee and Choi.

When it comes to the visuals, Jeffrey Scott Campbell’s artworks really stood out mainly due to his distinctive style. If you look closely at how he draws the faces of women – particularly the ones who are young and fit – you will realize the exaggerated look complete with the big eyes and curves seen on females in anime or even manga (Japanese comics). If you are looking visual realism on the characters, you won’t find it here at all. Campbell’s style truly defined the look of the characters and yet he was able to draw armored troops (Black Razors and the armed security guard) with a really high level of details (including their weapons) which really stood out visually. Campbell is also good with superhero spectacle and hard action. Last but not least, there is a deliberate amount of erotic imagery in this comic book which serves as a reminder that this is a story aimed at young adult and adult readers.  

Conclusion

Indeed, Gen13 #1 (1994) remains entertaining to read mainly because of the strong writing. The story moved at a smooth pace, the exposition was done cleverly, and the characters ended up being worthy enough to pay attention to. By the time I reached the end, I am convinced to go on to the next issue and rediscover not only more of the mini-series but also the way it expanded the lore of the WildStorm universe of the 1990s. This comic book alone strongly emphasized the connections with other elements of the WildStorm universe, particularly with Team 7 (its mini-series launched months after this one) and the dark legacy of IO. It is an adulterated superhero comic book that really offered readers something new and intriguing.

Overall, Gen13 #1 (1994) is recommended.

+++++

Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below and also please consider sharing this article to others. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. If you want to support my website, please consider making a donation. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at @CarloCarrascoPH as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco/.

A Look Back at Gen13 #1 (1994)

Disclaimer: This is my original work with details sourced from reading the comic book and doing personal research. Anyone who wants to use this article, in part or in whole, needs to secure first my permission and agree to cite me as the source and author. Let it be known that any unauthorized use of this article will constrain the author to pursue the remedies under R.A. No. 8293, the Revised Penal Code, and/or all applicable legal actions under the laws of the Philippines.

Welcome back, superhero fans, 1990s arts and culture enthusiasts, Image Comics fans and comic book collectors! Today we go back to the mid-1990s to examine one of the many tales of Jim Lee’s original WildStorm universe through the original Gen13 mini-series.

There is a lot to enjoy in the WildStorm comic book universe of the 1990s with such titles like WildCATS: Covert Action Teams, Team 7, StormWatch, Grifter, Backlash and Wetworks to name some. The WildStorm depicts the world as chaotic filled with strong paramilitary concepts, conspiracies and even aliens from deep space.

Along the way, WildStorm has its own take on the sub-genre of super-powered teenagers which was realized as Gen13 (stylized as Gen13). Strangely enough, the team – which actually first appeared in the Deathmate Black crossover comic book in 1993 – was originally titled as Gen X but WildStorm had to rebrand it into Gen13 as Marvel Comics already trademarked the name Generation X for an X-Men-related comic book project. To learn more about production history and background of Gen13, click here.

With those details laid down, here is a look back at Gen13 #1, published by Image Comics in 1994 with a story written by Jim Lee and Brandon Choi with artwork done by Jeffrey Scott Campbell (ink work by Alex Garner). This is the first issue of the mini-series.  

Early story

The story begins sometime in 1979 when a married couple (Stephen and Rachel Callahan) desperate runs away with their two little children. A team of armored troops (the Black Razors) riding two hovering vehicles catches up with them and hit Rachel with bullets passing through her body. Stephen, who is carrying his son Matthew, uses his power to destroy one of the hovering vehicles. One of the Black Razors realized that the husband is gen-active and nobody informed their team that he was with Gen12.

Agonizing with severe head pain, Stephen tells Matthew to take his little sister Nicole with him and run to the trees. As far as Stephen is concerned, he is finished and all he can do is buy time for the two little children to escape. He tells Matthew to protect his sister. Suddenly, the Black Razors killed Stephen right in front of Matthew and Nicole.

Fifteen years later, a young, nerdy college student named Caitlin Fairchild makes her way through the college campus in Princeton. She is a gifted student who has been focused on maintaining a high grade and graduate with her advanced degree in computer science in the near future.

Upon arriving at the dormitory, she meets her promiscuous roommate Alexa who informs her that some guys arrived earlier looking for her. The guys were described as middle-aged suits and they wanted to talk to Caitlin about some internship program. Alexa then leaves.

A few hours later, Caitlin wakes up as the door gets knocked. Special agent baker of the National Security Committee tells her that she has been accepted into the Gen13 program and her presence is immediately required in order to process her into the program before it begins the next day…

Quality

I enjoyed this comic book the first time I had it in 1994. I can clearly say that it is still fun and engaging to read again today.

This comic book was written with the intention to introduce super-powered teenagers as a new and really distinctive team in one corner of the original WildStorm universe while also expanding the lore by focusing more on International Operations’ unethical covert operations which will easily remind people about government conspiracies, top secret missions and the like. The story has really strong elements about conspiracies, unethical scientific experiments and even human rights violations. The story by Jim Lee and Brandon Choi has a strong structure but what stood out to me was the really creative writing done to bring the characters to life complete with a touch of the 1990s vibe (in reference to comic book trends and real-life society).

John Lynch, a former member of Team 7 and also one of the high-ranking officials of IO who occasionally appeared in prior WildStorm comic books, gets a nice share of the spotlight in the story and indeed he is not full control of his organization. In fact, IO’s execution of a new program about developing people with special abilities or powers (without their knowledge) raises Lynch’s concerns as he himself was a victim of betrayal and exposure to an experimental gas during his time with Team 7. Lynch also appeared in The Kindred mini-series (read my reviews by clicking here, here and here).

When it comes to the characters, Gen13’s members here are introduced with notable differences in terms of personality. The nerdy Caitlin Fairchild is the very promising smart young lady who has the potential to succeed. Bobby (Burnout) is the quiet guy who quickly realizes that true unity is needed in order for a group to succeed under the program they are in. Roxy is the undisciplined and rebellious young lady while Grunge is the loose cannon and has trouble with authorities. While it is clear you won’t see much of their powers yet in this comic book, they turned out to be interesting enough to follow thanks to the strong creative writing by Lee and Choi.

When it comes to the visuals, Jeffrey Scott Campbell’s artworks really stood out mainly due to his distinctive style. If you look closely at how he draws the faces of women – particularly the ones who are young and fit – you will realize the exaggerated look complete with the big eyes and curves seen on females in anime or even manga (Japanese comics). If you are looking visual realism on the characters, you won’t find it here at all. Campbell’s style truly defined the look of the characters and yet he was able to draw armored troops (Black Razors and the armed security guard) with a really high level of details (including their weapons) which really stood out visually. Campbell is also good with superhero spectacle and hard action. Last but not least, there is a deliberate amount of erotic imagery in this comic book which serves as a reminder that this is a story aimed at young adult and adult readers.  

Conclusion

Indeed, Gen13 #1 (1994) remains entertaining to read mainly because of the strong writing. The story moved at a smooth pace, the exposition was done cleverly, and the characters ended up being worthy enough to pay attention to. By the time I reached the end, I am convinced to go on to the next issue and rediscover not only more of the mini-series but also the way it expanded the lore of the WildStorm universe of the 1990s. This comic book alone strongly emphasized the connections with other elements of the WildStorm universe, particularly with Team 7 (its mini-series launched months after this one) and the dark legacy of IO. It is an adulterated superhero comic book that really offered readers something new and intriguing.

Overall, Gen13 #1 (1994) is recommended.

+++++

Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below and also please consider sharing this article to others. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. If you want to support my website, please consider making a donation. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at @CarloCarrascoPH as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco/.

A Look Back at Amazing Spider-Man #293 (1987)

Disclaimer: This is my original work with details sourced from reading the comic book and doing personal research. Anyone who wants to use this article, in part or in whole, needs to secure first my permission and agree to cite me as the source and author. Let it be known that any unauthorized use of this article will constrain the author to pursue the remedies under R.A. No. 8293, the Revised Penal Code, and/or all applicable legal actions under the laws of the Philippines.

Welcome back superhero enthusiasts, 1980s arts and culture enthusiasts, Marvel Comics fans and comic book collectors! Today we go back to the year 1987 to examine a small part of the Marvel Comics shared universe through a tale of the Amazing Spider-Man monthly series.

For this particular review, we will explore the 2nd chapter of classic storyline Kraven’s Last Hunt. The storyline started in Web of Spider-Man #31 (read my retro review by clicking here) and creators J. M. DeMatteis and Mike Zeck crafted it to last six chapters.

With those details laid down, here is a look back at Amazing Spider-Man #293, published in 1987 by Marvel Comics with a story written by J. M. DeMatteis and drawn by Mike Zeck.

Early story

The story begins on a rainy night as a tall figure wearing a black costume and mask stands over the grave stone that read “Here lies Spider-Man slain by the Hunter.” The figure takes off his mask revealing Kraven who delightfully laughs believing he has achieved greatness by defeating Spider-Man, burying him and taking over his identity.

Elsewhere in New York City, a woman struggles with walking down the sidewalk during the rain. As a rat runs near her, she loses her balance and falls on the road. Suddenly, a manhole near her opens revealing the hand of an unseen creature which pulls the lady down to the sewer. Moments later, she finds herself surrounded with rats and toxic materials. Slowly, the Vermin approaches her…

Quality

Considering what happened in Web of Spider-Man #31, it is not a spoiler to point out that the iconic Spider-Man is not really present in this very comic book. That being said, writer J. M. DeMatteis shifted the spotlight on Kraven – now in a Spider-Man costume and being the webslinger we know – while leaving some of it for Mary Jane Parker and Vermin.

Following what was established in the first chapter of Kraven’s Last Hunt, Kraven here continues with his obsession over his destiny while remembering lessons he learned not only from his personal past but also the legacy he inherited from his family. In his other obsession of becoming Spider-Man, Kraven went to the extreme being with countless spiders, consuming green liquid believing that spiderness will come into him, and more. Some may perceive him as a mad man while others might see him being mystical somewhat.

The DeMatteis-Zeck duo excelled in developing Mary Jane in this story as she feels uneasy over her husband’s absence. She really feels the weight of inconveniences and loneliness that come being married to a superhero who is far away doing something or being captured by a capable enemy. Mary Jane’s personality here shows signs of fragility too.

Vermin – the rat-like monster – is portrayed as an eater of human beings who turns out to be afraid of Spider-Man and he still remembers his past conflict not only with him ut also with Captain America. Vermin is a tragic character and the presence of rats in different parts of the story suggest that his presence in the storyline will only grow stronger. Some readers might find Vermin an abomination while there might be others who could get sympathetic towards him.

The plot itself has a strong structure and builds up nicely on what was established in the first chapter of this storyline. This time around, Kraven becomes Spider-Man and how he is perceived by others – who do not know the truth that Peter Parker is temporarily gone – is an emerging theme of the storyline.

Conclusion

Filled with gritty darkness, drama and suspense, Amazing Spider-Man #293 (1987) is an engaging 2nd chapter of the Kraven’s Last Hunt storyline. Even though Spider-Man is not present here, the DeMatteis-Zeck duo succeeded in making the tale compelling to read from start to finish. What they did to develop Mary Jane and Vermin added depth not only to this comic book but to the storyline as well. Right now, I am convinced to read the next chapter of this storyline.

Overall, Amazing Spider-Man #293 (1987) is highly recommended.

+++++

Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at  @HavenorFantasy as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco